Essential oils as bioinsecticides and their application in organic agriculture

Uncontrolled pesticide use in agriculture pollutes the environment and has harmful consequences on food chain participants. Health-safe plant production, without residues of carcinogenic and toxic pesticides, is a priority in food production. In addition, plant pests (insects) are becoming increasingly resistant to existing chemical pesticides. In order to grow healthy crops, the application of pesticides has to be decreased, while preventive and biological control should be intensified, i.e. biopesticides should be used instead of chemical ones. In addition to microbiological preparations, plant essential oils are also intensively used as biopesticides. The present study indicates that it is possible to use essential oils in organic agriculture as natural agents in the control of harmful insects. In vitro and in vivo studies indicate the existence of significant insecticidal effects of plant essential oils. Mono- and sesquiterpene components of essential oils are mainly neurotoxic to insects. However, despite this, the number of commercially available preparations is limited. It is necessary to better regulate the legislation on organic agriculture, as well as to additionally test the action modes of these oils.